Nonstop from Newark to Cape Town on United's most exciting inaugural to date
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Sunday marked a huge milestone for United Airlines and the carrier's top-notch route-planning team. As of this weekend, United is offering seasonal nonstop service between Newark and Cape Town, South Africa, trimming hours off the usual journey.
But don't just take my word for it — few nonstops offer such a tremendous time savings, as evidenced by a comparison with the many one-stop itineraries you can book.
Most connecting journeys require a stop in Europe and are operated by aircraft far less efficient than the Dreamliner, adding considerably to your carbon footprint. Here's United's nonstop, compared with a few common New York-Cape Town routings:
A Johannesburg (JNB) connection via South African is the next best option, though even the most efficient Europe routing — a connection in Paris (CDG) via Air France — adds more than 3,000 miles and 12 hours to the round-trip journey. It's easy to see why this particular launch is so significant, for United and U.S.-based travelers, as well.
Celebrating the inaugural
My dad and I both booked round-trip economy tickets from Newark (EWR) to Cape Town (CPT) in the W fare class for $2,252, then a generous Global Services friend with expiring PlusPoints waitlisted us for business class and United cleared the upgrade, so I could cover the inaugural. We paid with The Platinum Card® from American Express, earning 11,260 Membership Rewards points worth $225, based on TPG's valuations, thanks to the card's 5x points on airfare booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel.
The celebration began about an hour before boarding at Newark's Terminal C. Passengers, employees and invited guests gathered at Gate 101 for food, drinks and a predeparture celebration.
My dad and I had a lot of fun chatting with other flyers and took advantage of the numerous photo ops around the gate.
The event kicked off with traditional South African song and dance.
Then, Yoliswa Rose Mvebe, of the South African delegation, joined Jill Kaplan, United's president of New Jersey and New York, for welcome remarks.
There was an inaugural cake, of course.
And there was a selection of wine and plenty of South African treats.
All of the festivities took place within view of our 787-9 Dreamliner.
And the celebrations continued the moment we stepped on board, where I found a number of frequent flyers, including Global Services members Jason DiVenere and Tom Stuker, who recently passed his previous 20 million-mile record.
We even had a TPG reunion in the rear business cabin! Former TPG news editor Jessica Puckett covered the flight for Conde Nast Traveler.
The crew really got into the spirit, too! Capt. Roy, a South African native, brought biltong for all of the business-class passengers.
Meanwhile, United's vice president of network planning, Patrick Quayle, served ice cream sundaes.
And First Officer Sue brought custom cookies all the way from LA.
Experiencing United's 787-9 biz
United will soon be retrofitting its Dreamliners to offer the new Polaris business-class seat plus a Premium Plus cabin, but a refreshed plane wasn't ready in time for our inaugural flight.
The 2-2-2 configuration worked out just fine here, since I was traveling with my dad. Though I normally prefer the center seats in Row 6 (D and E) since there's a larger footwell at the bulkhead and direct aisle access, it was slim pickings with a full cabin. I wanted to have a window seat to capture the arrival, as well, so we ended up with 4A and 4B.
But I completely forgot Row 4 is missing a window! You definitely want to sit anywhere else if you're hoping for a clear view from United's 787-9.
The airline will always offer pajamas on this route, but there was a special set on hand for the inaugural.
My dad and I quickly changed into our PJs and settled in with sparkling wine.
Dinner was served shortly after takeoff. The meal consisted of the usual Polaris fare, along with a couple of South African wines.
The meal was fine, but there wasn't anything special for the inaugural, just the usual mix of items you'd expect on an ex-Newark United flight.
I really enjoyed my salmon entree, though. It was cooked well, and the Thai curry sauce added a ton of flavor.
Most of all, I was amazed at how much time we'd save compared to my recent journey to Cape Town, with a daylong connection in Frankfurt (FRA). It's incredible to be able to fly nonstop between the U.S. and CPT.
How to book yourself a seat
United's cash and award rates have largely remained unchanged since immediately after launch, though individual flight availability has obviously shifted a bit. The least expensive fare I've found from Newark is $923 round-trip, though certain dates can exceed $2,000 in coach.
Business class can be very expensive as well, though there are a few dates with far more reasonable fares.
And what about redemptions? While most economy seats are priced at 70,000 MileagePlus miles or higher, worth $910, based on TPG's valuations, there are a number of flights with saver availability, which means you can book a one-way journey for just 40,000 miles, worth $520.
The same can't be said for business-class awards -- one-way flights from Newark to Cape Town start at 223,000 miles, worth $2,899, and go all the way up to 302,500 miles, worth $3,933, though I did find one date with availability in the other direction for just 72,500 miles in biz, worth $943, and there are a number of dates with 162,500-mile ($2,113) awards.
Currently, United's Cape Town service runs through March 27, 2020, though the carrier plans to extend its EWR-CPT service through next year — perhaps with an earlier start date and greater frequency, too.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.